Buggy-top support



N0. 624,84l. Patented May 9, I899.

W. W. MILLER, JR. BUGGY TOP SUPPORT.

(Appl at nfll as pt 11 1898) (No Model.)

1 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIA'M IVIRT MILLER, JR, OF ALTAMONT, ILLINOIS.

BUGGY-TOP SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,841, dated May 9, 1899. Application filed September 17, 1898. Serial No. 691,147. (No mddel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM WIRT MILLER, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Altamont, county of Eflingham, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Buggy-Top Supporters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts. I The present invention relates to those buggy-top supporters comprising a sleeve to receive the arm on the bu ggy and a bent spring which is designed to receive the weight of the buggy-top.

The objects of the invention are the provision of improvements whereby greater resiliency will be given the spring and the device made adaptable foruse on studs or arms having the ordinary form of rubber buffer without necessitating its removal.

Afurther object is to provide an improved device of this class which can be stamped or struck from a single piece of metal with rapidity and ease and at small expense.

Having the foregoing and other objects of the invention in view, it consists of certain improved features fully set forth hereinafter,

and recited in the appended claim. v

In the accompanyingdrawings,forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion ofa buggy, illustrating the application of my device; and Fig.2 is a perspective view of the device, illustrating its position in connection With the shifting rail of a b esy- In the practice of my invention the device is preferably made from a single piece of resilient metal, and it comprisesa base-plate A, having depending plates cupon each end thereof, and a spring-bow B. Upon the free end of this said bow is a trough-like receptacle C, lined interiorly with a flexible coating D of rubber, felt, or other suitable material. The depending projections a of the base A are each supplied with a squared aperture a for engagement with the squared projection e of the shifting rail E, which forms part of the buggy-seat.

In attaching the device the nut e is removed from the threaded ende of the squared ing part of the top, will rest within the chan-- nel O and contact directly with the soft lining thereof, and it is-obvious that the bow cannot be scratched by said contact, and the spring action of the bow B, forming part of the support, will tend to prevent any rattling or jarring of the buggy-top.

It is obvious that the 3 form of the springbuffer B affords sufficient elasticity to relieve the buggy-top of undue vertical j olting,thereby promoting durability of the top,while giving every necessary protection to the bow,

which rests on the bufier. Furthermore, this spring of 3 form has little or no lateral play by comparison with buifer-springs of volute form passing one or more times entirely around the shifting stud, to which they are attached. These volute springs give far less lateral stability to the bow-top than my device, while at the same time my spring prevents undue vertical play of the top on rough roads, thereby saving the top from excessive strains and wear," which otherwise would fall upon it.

Another advantage resulting from the peculiar form of my buffer device lies in the arrangement of the ear-plates a Ct relatively to the attaching base-plate A and the rail-stud e, which permits application of the entire supporter to the stud, while leaving the ordinary rubber buifer on the stud between the ear-plates, and whereby should the bufferspring and base-plate be broken away by accident the ordinary bufier will still remain on the stud as-a protection to the top bow.

Another and important advantage gained by having the'base-plate A located above the stud or arm 6 is the increased resiliency given the bow B, which is supported at the center of the base plate. While the cushioning effect is increased by this construction, it is not at the expense of stability, as the baseplate is sufficiently rigid to withstand shocks without; bending.

Having thus described my invention,what"' IOO to the base-plate intermediate the ends of the latter and provided with a trough-shaped member at its free end which is adaped-to receive the bow of the buggy-top when'lowered, and a retaining device on the arm adapted to prevent displacement of the supporter therefrom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 14th day of September, 1898.

WILLIAM XVIRT MILLER, JR. \Vitnesses:

J. 0. SMITH, J OHN H. 0. SMITH. 

